Wire line clamp



Feb. 5 1924. 1,482,460)

. l F. E. cRoTTo WIRE LIN-E' CLMP Filed June 18. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 5 1924. 11,482,416@ v F. E. CROTTO WIRE LINE CLAMP Filed June 18, 1925 2 sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 5, 1924.

TED STATES taai@ P A T FRANK E. CROTTO, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR T WESTERN SUPPLY COMPANY, OE TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

WIRE LINE CLAMP.

Application led June 18,

To aZZ whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. Cno'rro, citizen of the United States of America, residing at Tulsa, in the county of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma, .have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire Line Clamps, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to new'and useful improvements in wire line clamps.

The object of this invention is to provide a wire line clamp in which the clamping elements will, when brought into operation, exert an equal pressure on the line radially toward the center of said linee; andl which when released will relieve the pressure radially from the center of the line; whereby the line is saved from distortion and said elements will be prevented from wedging or locking and a free and easy-operation is attained.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wire line clamp in which the pressure exerted by the clamping elements may W be equally and gradually applied or relieved. A further object is to provide a device of the character described, in which the adjustment of the clamping elements may be minutely controlled so that any desired slippage of the line may be eiiected to a predetermined degree.

An advantage of the invention results from the use of a plurality of line slips which being subjected to an equal wear upon their work Jfaces, are not only interchange- Fable, one with the other, but may be replaced from stock parts and all made from the same pattern.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other Jfeatures of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood Jfrom a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a clamp constructed in accordance with my invention, portions being illustrated in section,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a detail of the swivel nut, and

Fig. 5 is a detail of the handle fastening.

1923. Serial No. 646,283.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates an arcuate head having vertical side or end webs 11, and a central web 12 connecting its top and bottom plates, pockets being formed on each side of the central web. Elongated clamp arms 18. each have an ear 14 on their inner ends engaging in one of the pockets. The ears are reduced in thickness so as to enter the pockets between the top and bottom plates of the head and are pivoted on vertical pins 15 fastened in said plates.

The arms are shouldered on top and bottom immediately in front of the head and each has a vertical arcuate seat 16, which is given length by the shoulders. In the end of the web 12 and the front is formed an arcuate seat 16. These seats are in concentric relation and each receives a slip 17, the latter being duplicates and interchangeable. The seats have sumps 18 for receiving bosses 19 on the inner sides of the slips. Bolts 20 are passed through the web 12 and arms 13 and have their ends threaded in the bosses and the slips, whereby the latter are held in place.` The slips have outwardly directed iianges 17 at their upper ends overhanging the arms and the head. The faces of the slips are formed on radius less than that ot the cable or rope which is to be clamped.

The arms outwardly of the seats have opposed arcuate grooves 21 tor receiving a smaller rope or line.

The arms have upwardly and outwardly curved hooks 22 overhanging the sides ot the head and receiving links 23, whereby the clamp may be suspended in the usual manner. The arms have their adjacent sides diverging and their outer ends slotted. In the end of one arm a cylindrical nut 24 is journaled and has its end headed and countersunk as is shown in Fig. 4. A latch bolt 25 is threaded through the nut and by the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, the bolt is centered in the slotted end of the right hand arm (Fig. 1). The left hand end of the bolt is reduced at 26 to form a shoulder 27. A portion of the reduced end has projecting screw threads 26 spaced from the shoulder. A washer 28 is threaded lover the threads and located in the space between the latter and the shoulder in which it is loosely confined. A flanged nut 29 is screwed onto the threads and fastened with a set screw 3l. Ball bearings 30- are interposed between the lett hand (Fig. 1)` arm and the washer 28 is freed so that y.the arms are .released 'and theboltmay .be swung out oi'theend vof the left handv arm.l 'By turning the vhandle in a clockwise-direction.the arms are drawn ftogether.

In using the links 23 aresuspendejdby the usual manner. rlfhe'bolt 25 .is swung'out of thefend of the left hand' (Fig. l) ,arm and the arms opened, Wherebywthe slips 1.7 are` spread apart on each s icleuoffthe Lcentral slip 17 ,carriedvbythe head. The throat which` is thus openedreadily receives the `cable anduthe latteris disposdfbetweenthe SPS- fterthe cable is .received the .bolt Zis swung into .the arm `and vthe .handle v32 turned until the washer bears against the outer side of the .leithand arm; whereupon further rotation of the bolt serves to.y draw the armstogether. `Asthe arms .are'swung together on their pivot pin`s`1'5, the :slips 17 carried by saidarmsengage the cable and vclamp ,it againstgthe central slip. Itwillbe seen that the .arm slips engage ftheucableaon each side and graduallyand uniformly .in conjunction with thecenter'slip, clamp said cable, with the result that the lcable is not rolled, twisted -or distorted, but is firmly engaged with an equal. radial `pressurejtoward its center. This is: due tothe relative location of `the centers of the pivot lpins 15 with relation 'to the slips. y A

The cable may be very` tightlylengaged Without injury. By turning the'bolt 25,'the arms ymay be spread to just loosen `the/,slips enough to permit a desired slippage of the cable. This may be .minutely controlled owing tothe .length of the arms and the `pitch of the threads .of the bolt. The slipsbeing released with `substantially .egual Ipressure it is obvious that=their faces will Wear equally. There will be .nounequal ywea-rfor .eccentric gripping. action vin ithis clamp and .the vcable willibe atalltimes and -under all conditions eilici'ently held by theclainp. I j. i Various changes in Athe size .-andfshapeof the diierent parts fas ywell .as modifications and alterations may be made' rwithin Athe scopeof the appendedcla'ims.

What I claim, is: y1. .In a line clamp, .aihead, afclamping slipvcarried 'by the head, Ya Epairof cti-acting arms' piv'oted .to fthe' head; and' slips fnarried hyrtlre' amiszancl' :correlated 'to' the'ilia slip.

1line receiving portion, a pair of arms pivoted 'to-"said head, each having an arcuate `cable line clamping element co-actlng with the line receivingportion of the head when the arms are swung together. y v

e. .In aline clamp, ahead having ,cable line .receiving `portion, a pair of armspiv- -otedto `said head, `each havingan arcuate `cableline clamping element co-acting with the'line lreceiving portionof the head when the arms are swung together, andmeans for drawing said arms together. r.

l5. In aline clamp, a head fhaving ra Acable clamping .element and 'clamping Varms `piv- Iotedto the head on each side ofthe clamping element, eable clamping means" carried bythe arms `on1e ach side `of the clamping :element. d j

f6'. In .a line clamp, a .headhaving a. cable clamping .element, clampingarms Ypivoted tothe-head-on each side of the clamping element, vcable 'clamping .means carried by the armson each side of the clamping element,

and means fordrawin'g the yarms together.

7. In a line clamp, a head having .a cable clamping element, clamping` arms pivoted to the Lhead onveach side olf-the clamping ele ment, cable clampinglmeans carried by the armson each'side ofthe clamping element, and means for .drawing V'the larms itogether, said last named also l'acting to .gradually release 'the arms to `uniformly Lrelieve the clamping `pressure of 1the arms.

8. In aline clamp, afheadhaving .a central cable clampino element, clamping arms pivotedtothe head on each side of said Aelement, cable clamping' means on'each :arm ad jacent the clamping element and' adjacent each other,and a latch boltiswiveled inthe outer end of one Varm 1"and carrying ymeans for engaging the1 other arm for fastening said arms together and for drawing `them 'into clamping relation.

i9.' JIn'a `line clamp, ahead having an elongated vertical cable kclamping element a1- cuate-inLfcross-section, fclamping arms pivoted to `the head on 'each side yor `the "clampingelement, elfongatedcable clamping means on each -farm adjacent the clamping-element,

said clamping means being arcuate -in crosssectiomthe pivot points -off-the arms and the 'clampingelement and clamping means be.- ing so related .that ,WhenI said arms are swungA the saidelement V1and means :are bi-ought :into fconcentric Yclamping relation, and means for drawing the @armsfftogether fand fastening/them.

elongated vertical seat at its center, a slip removably mounted in the seat of the head, clamping arms having ears pivoted in the head on each side of the seat, hooks carried by the arms for suspending the clamp, the

arms having vertical seats, removable slips mounted 1n the seats of the arms, a latch 

